Pallet tiering frames

ABSTRACT

A pallet tiering frame of adjustable size composed of two identical sections, each section including a pair of spaced vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet and a top member extending between the posts and affixed to their upper ends. The top member of each section has a pair of spaced, parallel connecting bars extending inwardly of the pallet, one of the bars being hollow and having an inside cross section slightly greater than the outside surface of the other of the bars, so that when the two sections are secured to opposite adjacent corners of the pallet the connecting bars are aligned in telescopically slidable relationship.

United States Patent I 13,5s3,33s

lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee PALLET TIERING FRAMES 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Fleld ofSearch 108/51-58 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary ExaminerFrancis K. Zugel Assistant ExaminerGlenn O. Finch Attorney-Morgan, Finnegan, Durham and Pine ABSTRACT: A pallet tiering frame of adjustable size composed of two identical sections, each section including a pair of spaced vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet and a top member extending between the posts and affixed to their 'upper ends. The top member of each section has a pair of spaced, parallel connecting bars extending inwardly of the pallet, one of the bars being hollow and having an inside cross section slightly greater than the outside surface of the other of the bars, so that when the two sections are secured to opposite adjacent corners of the pallet the connecting bars are aligned in telescopically slidable relationship.

PATENIED JUN 8 I971 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT L. MARCHESO A T TORNEYS PATENTEU JUN 8 I97! SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 3

Ill/Il/ INVENTOR. FIG. 4 003527 L. mncussa A TTORNEYS PALLET TIERING FRAMES BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to pallet tiering frames, and relates more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in provisions for detachably engaging such frames to a pallet and for providing a lateral adjustment in such frames so that a single frame is capable of fitting variously sized pallets of conventional construction.

The desirability of pallet tiering frames has been previously recognized, in that it permits several pallets to be stacked one on top of the other, without injuriously crushing the materials carried by the several pallets.

Heretofore, however, the construction of the pallet tiering frames has been such that the frames have not been laterally adjustable, and it therefore has been necessary for the warehouser to have on hand frames of several different sizes so that the variously sized pallets could be accommodated. This is obviously undesirable from the standpoint of both economics and practicality, as it requires the warehouser, or a similar user of pallets, to purchase more than the normally required number of frames and to then provide storage for the excess frames, and the workmen must waste valuable time ascertaining the exact pallet sizes and then locating the appropriately sized frame for each individual pallet.

It is also desirable in pallet tiering frames that they be capable of easy and quick installation on a pallet by a single work man and yet, when installed, are not subject to accidental displacement, and when in storage, are not easily damagedv Prior proposals for detachably engaging tiering frames to pallets have been disadvantageous in that they have been subject to one or both of the foregoing deficiencies.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved pallet tiering frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pallet tiering frame which eliminates the aforementioned disadvantages of prior pallet tiering frame constructions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pallet tiering frame which is constructed so as to be adjustable in at least one lateral direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pallet tiering frame which is constructed so as to be adjustable in two lateral directions which are perpendicular to each other.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pallet tiering frame which is adjustable in at least one lateral direction and may be releasably locked in the desired adjusted position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pallet tiering frame which is easily and quickly installed and yet, when installed, is not subject to accidental displacement, and when in storage, is not easily damaged.

Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in part herein and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention is directed to a new and improved pallet tiering frame which is adjustable in at least one lateral direction so as to accommodate variously sized pallets.

The pallet tiering frame constructed in accordance with the invention is composed of two identical sections, each section including a pair of spaced, vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet at their bottom ends and a top member affixed to the upper ends of the posts so as to extend therebetween and to lie in a plane parallel to the surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto.

In the preferred embodiment, the top member of each section includes two spaced, parallel connecting rods extending inwardly of the pallet in a direction towards the side ofthe pallet opposite that to which the frame section is secured, one of the connecting rods having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the other connecting rod. Thus, when the two identical sections are secured to opposite adjacent corners of the pallet, the opposed inwardly extending connecting rods are aligned in telescopically slidable relationship, thereby permitting the frame to be adjusted in a lateral direction.

The tiering frame is detachably engaged to the pallet by foot members which are suitably secured to the bottom ends of the vertical posts or uprights. Each foot member comprises a generally elongated plate which is secured to the post and has a pair of spaced, depending flanges extending downwardly therefrom. The spaced flanges are adapted to receive the stringer therebetween, the outer flange overlying the outer surface of the stringer and the inner flange extending downwardly between adjacent boards of the pallet, overlying the inner surface of the stringer and including a notch slidably receiving the thickness of the end platform board therein.

Advantageously, the connecting rods of greater size are provided with a spring-pressed lug extending through the wall thereof and adapted to snap-fit into one of a series of apertures formed in the smaller sized connecting rods, thereby providing a releasable locking means for locking the connecting rods in the desired laterally adjusted position.

In a first alternate embodiment of the pallet tiering frame construction in accordance with the invention, the top member extending between the vertical posts of each section of the frame also includes a telescoping section, whereby the frame is adjustable in two lateral directions which are normal to each other. In a further alternate embodiment, the top member is formed from bars having a square cross section and the connecting rods are welded to the top member along the outer sides thereof so that the bending stresses are not concentrated in the area of the weldment.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pallet tiering frame construction embodying the present invention, the frame being shown secured to a pallet;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly diagrammatic, view illustrating the foot member for detachably engaging the vertical posts to the pallet;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partly fragmentary, view of the foot member construction illustrated in FIG. 2 turned so as to illustrate the notched depending flange portion serving to detachably secure the frame upright to the pallet;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation, partly sectional, illustrating the releasable locking mechanism for locking the frame connecting rods in the desired adjusted position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of a pallet tiering frame constructed in accordance with the invention, the view showing the frame being adjustable in two lateral directions which are normal to each other; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of a pallet tiering frame constructed in accordance with the invention, the frame being shown secured to a pallet.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a pallet tiering frame, indicated generally by the reference letter A, secured in position for use on a conventional pallet, indicated generally by reference numeral 10, the latter having parallel strings l1 and upper and lower platforms comprised of spaced boards 12,13, respectively.

Tiering frame A comprises two identical sections 14,15, each section including a pair of spaced, vertical posts or uprights 16,17, the latter having foot members 18 suitably secured to the bottom ends thereof which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet and carrying a top member 19 at their upper ends which lies in a plane parallel to the surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto.

In accordance with the invention, the tiering frame is laterally adjustable in at least one direction, whereby pallets of various sizes may be accommodated with a single frame construction.

To this end, as here preferably embodied, the top member 19 of each of the frame sections 14,15 includes a pair of spaced, parallel connecting rods 20,21, extending inwardly of the pallet in a direction towards the side of the pallet opposite that to which the frame section is secured, the connecting rod 21 having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the other connecting rod 20.

Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 1, top member 19 comprises a channel-shaped rod having outwardly angled side portions 22, to which the uprights or posts 16,17 are suitably affixed, and an elongated base portion 23, to which the connecting rods 20,21 are afflxed.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, when the two identical sections 14,15 are secured to opposite adjacent cor ners of the pallet, the opposed inwardly extending connecting rods 20,21 are aligned in telescopically slidable relationship, thereby permitting the frame to be adjusted in a lateral direction parallel to the connecting rods.

As previously mentioned, each of the vertical posts or uprights 16,17 carries a foot member 18 at the bottom end thereof which detachably engages a corner of the pallet. As best seen in FIGS. 2-3, each foot member 18 comprises a generally elongated plate portion 25 which is suitably secured to the post and has a pair of spaced, depending flanges 26,27 extending downwardly therefrom. The outer flange 16 overlies the outer surface of the outer stringer 11 and the inner flange 27 extends downwardly in the opening between adjacent upper boards 12 of the pallet. Inner flange 27 is spaced from the outer flange 26 a distance which is sufficient to receive the stringer 11 therebetween, and further includes a notch 28 slidably receiving the thickness of the end platform board 12 therein.

It will thus be seen that the tiering frame A may be easily and quickly installed by merely connecting two sections 19 together with the connecting rods 20,21 in their fully telescoped position, inserting the forward portions of each of the foot members 18 into the space between the end upper platform board and the next adjacent board, and thereafter spreading the sections apart until the notch 28 of each of the foot members fully receives the thickness of the end platform board therein. I

It will also be seen that, by constructing the foot members 18 so that the notch or gripping element is formed in a vertically directed flange, the gripping element of the foot members is not subject to being easily damaged in storage or during assembly of the tiering frame.

Advantageously, in accordance with the invention, the laterally adjustable tiering frame is provided with releasable locking means for locking the frame in the desired laterally adjusted position.

To this end, referring now more particularly to FIG 4 of the accompanying drawings, each of the connecting rods 20 of the tiering frame top members 19 are provided with a springpressed lug 30 extending through the wall thereof and adapted to snap-fit into one of a series of apertures 31 formed in the smaller telescoping rods 21. Thus, it will be seen that, upon installation of the frame on the pallet, the desired laterally adjusted position of the connecting rods 20,21 may be locked in place, further assuring that the frame will not be accidentally dislodged from the pallet.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 5 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a first alternate embodiment of a pallet tiering frame construction in accordance with the invention, indicated generally by the reference letter B. In this embodiment, each of the top frame members 40 includes a telescoping section in which a reduced diameter portion 42 is telescopically slidably received in a tubular portion 43, whereby the frame is adjustable in two lateral directions which are normal to each other.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a further alternate embodiment ofa pallet tiering frame construction in accordance with the invention, indicated generally by the reference letter C. In this embodiment, the channel-shaped top member 50 is formed from bars having a square cross section and the telescoping connecting rods 50,51 are weldably secured to the top member 50 along the outer edges of the outwardly angled sides 52 thereof. This construction has been found to be advantageous in that the bending stresses resulting from stacking several pallets one on top of the other are primarily received by the top member 50 and are not concentrated in the area of weldment.

It will, of course, be understood that the features shown in the various embodiments described herein may be combined in any desired manner. Thus, for example, the releasable locking mechanism applied to the adjustable connecting rods may equally be applied to the embodiment where the top members are also laterally adjustable, whereby the tiering frame may be locked in both of the desired laterally adjusted positions. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific embodiments herein shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. In a tiering frame for use with pallets or the like, including a pair of identical sections each having a pair of spaced vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet at their bottom ends and carry a top member at their upper ends which extends therebetween and lies in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto, the improvements therein which comprise:

adjustable connecting means securing the top members together to form said tiering frame on said pallet, whereby said frame may be adjusted in a lateral direction to accommodate pallets of varying size; and

each of said posts detachably engaging said pallet by means of a foot member, each of said foot members comprising a plate portion secured to the bottom end of said post, said plate portion having a pair of spaced depending flanges extending normally therefrom, one of said flanges adapted to overlie the outer surface of the outer pallet stringer and the other of said flanges adapted to extend downwardly between the end upper platform board and the next adjacent board and to overlie the inner surface of said outer pallet stringer, and the inner depending flange further having a notch formed therein immediately beneath said plate adapted to slidably receive the thickness of the end platform board therein in detachable, gripping engagement.

2. A tiering frame as claimed in claim 11, wherein said base portion of each of said top members includes a first rod portion telescopically slidably received in a second, tubular rod portion aligned therewith, whereby said frame may be adjusted in two lateral directions which are normal to each other.

3. In a tiering frame for use with pallets or the like, including a pair of identical sections each having a pair of spaced verti cal posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet at their bottom ends and carry a top member at their upper ends which extends therebetween and lies in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto, the improvements therein which comprise:

each of said top members comprising a channel-shaped rod having a base portion and outwardly angled side portions extending from said base portion; adjustable connecting means securing the top members together to form said tiering frame on said pallet, whereby said frame may be adjusted in a lateral direction to accommodate pallets ofvarying size, said adjustable connecting means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel connecting bars secured to said base portion of each of said top members and extending inwardly of the pallet when each of said sections is secured thereto, one of said connecting bars having an inside cross-sectional shape identical to but slightly greater than the outer surface of the other of said connecting bars, whereby when said sections are secured to opposite adjacent corners of the pallet, said connecting bars are aligned in telescopically slidable relation ship with one another; and said posts are secured to said side portions of each of said top members. 4. In a tiering frame for use with pallets or the like, including a pair of identical sections each having a pair of spaced vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners ofthe pallet at their bottom ends and carry a top member at their upper ends which extends therebetween and lies in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto, the improvements therein which comprise:

each of said top members comprising a channel-shaped bar having a base portion and outwardly angled side portions extending from said base portion; adjustable connecting means securing the top members together to form said tiering frame on said pallet, whereby said frame may be adjusted in a lateral direction to accommodate pallets of varying size, said adjustable connecting means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel connecting bars secured to each of said top members along the outer edges of the outwardly angled side portions thereof and extending inwardly 0f the pallet when each of said sections is secured thereto, one of said connecting bars having an inside cross-sectional shape identical to but slightly greater than the outer surface of the other of said connecting bars, whereby when said sections are secured to opposite adjacent corners of the pallet, said connecting bars are aligned in telescopically slidable relationship with one another; said posts are affixed to said side portions of aid top member; and said top member and said connecting bars having a square cross section. 5. In a tiering frame for use with pallets or the like, including a pair of identical sections each having a pair of spaced vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet at their bottom ends and carry a top member at their upper ends which extends therebetween and lies in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto, the improvements therein which comprise:

adjustable connecting means securing the top members together to form said tiering frame on said pallet, whereby said frame may be adjusted in a lateral direction to accommodate pallets of varying size, said adjustable connecting means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel connecting bars secured to each of said top members and extending inwardly of the pallet when each of said sections is secured thereto, one of said connecting bars having an inside cross-sectional shape identical to but slightly greater than the outer surface of the other of said connecting bars, whereby when said sections are secured to opposite adjacent corners of the pallet, said connecting bars are aligned in telescopically slidably relationship with one another; and releasable locking means for locking the tiering frame in the desired laterally adjusted position, said releasable locking means comprising a springpressed lug member extending through the wall of the larger connecting bar and a plurality of apertures formed in the smaller connecting bar, whereby said spring-pressed lug is adapted to snap-fit into one of said apertures to lick the connecting bars in said desired laterally adjusted position. 6. In a tiering frame for use with pallets or the like, including a pair of identical sections each having a pair of spaced vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet at their bottom ends and carry a top member at their upper ends which extends therebetween and lies in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto, the improvement therein which comprises:

each of aid top members having at least a central portion thereof extending generally parallel to one side of aid pallet when said frame is secured thereto; adjustable connecting means securing said top members together to form said tiering frame on said pallet, whereby said frame may be adjusted in a lateral direction to accommodate pallets of varying size, said adjustable connecting means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel connecting bars secured to each of said top members and extending inwardly of the pallet when each of said sections is secured thereto, one of said connecting bars having an inside cross-sectional shape identical to but slightly greater than the outer surface of the other of said connecting bars, whereby when said sections are secured to opposite adjacent corners of the pallet, said connecting bars are aligned in telescopically slidable relationship with one another, and each of said pair of connecting bars being secured to its associated top member generally centrally between the pair of spaced vertical posts carrying said associated top member, whereby said adjustable connecting bars form with said top members a generally rectangular central horizontal support for said tiering frame. 

1. In a tiering frame for use with pallets or the like, including a pair of identical sections each having a pair of spaced vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet at their bottom ends and carry a top member at their upper ends which extends therebetween and lies in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto, the improvements therein which comprise: adjustable connecting means securing the top members together to form said tiering frame on said pallet, whereby said frame may be adjusted in a lateral direction to accommodate pallets of varying size; and each of said posts deTachably engaging said pallet by means of a foot member, each of said foot members comprising a plate portion secured to the bottom end of said post, said plate portion having a pair of spaced depending flanges extending normally therefrom, one of said flanges adapted to overlie the outer surface of the outer pallet stringer and the other of said flanges adapted to extend downwardly between the end upper platform board and the next adjacent board and to overlie the inner surface of said outer pallet stringer, and the inner depending flange further having a notch formed therein immediately beneath said plate adapted to slidably receive the thickness of the end platform board therein in detachable, gripping engagement.
 2. A tiering frame as claimed in claim 11, wherein said base portion of each of said top members includes a first rod portion telescopically slidably received in a second, tubular rod portion aligned therewith, whereby said frame may be adjusted in two lateral directions which are normal to each other.
 3. In a tiering frame for use with pallets or the like, including a pair of identical sections each having a pair of spaced vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet at their bottom ends and carry a top member at their upper ends which extends therebetween and lies in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto, the improvements therein which comprise: each of said top members comprising a channel-shaped rod having a base portion and outwardly angled side portions extending from said base portion; adjustable connecting means securing the top members together to form said tiering frame on said pallet, whereby said frame may be adjusted in a lateral direction to accommodate pallets of varying size, said adjustable connecting means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel connecting bars secured to said base portion of each of said top members and extending inwardly of the pallet when each of said sections is secured thereto, one of said connecting bars having an inside cross-sectional shape identical to but slightly greater than the outer surface of the other of said connecting bars, whereby when said sections are secured to opposite adjacent corners of the pallet, said connecting bars are aligned in telescopically slidable relationship with one another; and said posts are secured to said side portions of each of said top members.
 4. In a tiering frame for use with pallets or the like, including a pair of identical sections each having a pair of spaced vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet at their bottom ends and carry a top member at their upper ends which extends therebetween and lies in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto, the improvements therein which comprise: each of said top members comprising a channel-shaped bar having a base portion and outwardly angled side portions extending from said base portion; adjustable connecting means securing the top members together to form said tiering frame on said pallet, whereby said frame may be adjusted in a lateral direction to accommodate pallets of varying size, said adjustable connecting means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel connecting bars secured to each of said top members along the outer edges of the outwardly angled side portions thereof and extending inwardly of the pallet when each of said sections is secured thereto, one of said connecting bars having an inside cross-sectional shape identical to but slightly greater than the outer surface of the other of said connecting bars, whereby when said sections are secured to opposite adjacent corners of the pallet, said connecting bars are aligned in telescopically slidable relationship with one another; said posts are affixed to said side portions of aid top member; and said top member and said connecting bars having a square cross section.
 5. In a tiering frame for use with pallets or the like, including a pair of identical sections each having a pair of spaced vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet at their bottom ends and carry a top member at their upper ends which extends therebetween and lies in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto, the improvements therein which comprise: adjustable connecting means securing the top members together to form said tiering frame on said pallet, whereby said frame may be adjusted in a lateral direction to accommodate pallets of varying size, said adjustable connecting means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel connecting bars secured to each of said top members and extending inwardly of the pallet when each of said sections is secured thereto, one of said connecting bars having an inside cross-sectional shape identical to but slightly greater than the outer surface of the other of said connecting bars, whereby when said sections are secured to opposite adjacent corners of the pallet, said connecting bars are aligned in telescopically slidably relationship with one another; and releasable locking means for locking the tiering frame in the desired laterally adjusted position, said releasable locking means comprising a spring-pressed lug member extending through the wall of the larger connecting bar and a plurality of apertures formed in the smaller connecting bar, whereby said spring-pressed lug is adapted to snap-fit into one of said apertures to lick the connecting bars in said desired laterally adjusted position.
 6. In a tiering frame for use with pallets or the like, including a pair of identical sections each having a pair of spaced vertical posts which detachably engage adjacent corners of the pallet at their bottom ends and carry a top member at their upper ends which extends therebetween and lies in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the pallet when the posts are secured thereto, the improvement therein which comprises: each of aid top members having at least a central portion thereof extending generally parallel to one side of aid pallet when said frame is secured thereto; adjustable connecting means securing said top members together to form said tiering frame on said pallet, whereby said frame may be adjusted in a lateral direction to accommodate pallets of varying size, said adjustable connecting means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel connecting bars secured to each of said top members and extending inwardly of the pallet when each of said sections is secured thereto, one of said connecting bars having an inside cross-sectional shape identical to but slightly greater than the outer surface of the other of said connecting bars, whereby when said sections are secured to opposite adjacent corners of the pallet, said connecting bars are aligned in telescopically slidable relationship with one another, and each of said pair of connecting bars being secured to its associated top member generally centrally between the pair of spaced vertical posts carrying said associated top member, whereby said adjustable connecting bars form with said top members a generally rectangular central horizontal support for said tiering frame. 